NORMAL – The committee that decides which non-profit groups should receive Harmon Arts Grants, named after and presented to winners by former Normal Mayor Paul Harmon and his wife, Sandy, found themselves with some extra cash thanks to one recipient from last year who was unable to fulfill the task they had asked grant money for.

City Manager Pam Reece explained the Galleries at Illinois State University returned to the committee $4,000 recently. The grant awards had already been announced late last month. But since then, the committee has awarded a little more to the smaller amounts some of the groups had asked for. Of the returned $4,000, the committee awarded an additional $1,500 to groups, making the total prize given out this year $26,500 instead of the $25,000 announced earlier. As a result of the reimbursed money, organizers of Concerts On The Quad at Illinois State University received a grant of $1,500.

Other grant recipients, and the grants they were awarded are: Illinois Symphony Orchestra, $2,000; Illinois State University’s Shakespeare Festival, $2,000; Prairie Fire Theatre, $2,000; YWCA Express Yourself, $1,950; Midwest Institute of Opera at ISU, $1,850; University Galleries at ISU, $1,750; Heartland Theatre, $1,500; McLean County Arts Center, $1,500; Twin Cities Ballet, $1,500; USA Ballet, $1,500; Further Jazz, $1,200; Illinois Chamber Music Festival at Illinois Wesleyan University, $1,200; Brass Band of Central Illinois, $1,100; Normal Community West High School Bands, $1,000; Sound Of Illinois, $1,000; Illinois Voices Theatre, $750; Community Players Theatre, $600; and Crossroads Area Student Theatre (CAST), $600.

As former Mayor Paul Harmon announced each winning group in reverse order, and Council members sat in the audience watching, Mayor Chris Koos handed the representative for the group an envelope with their grant money inside.

Council Discusses Money Spent On Riparian Waterways: In certain sections of Town, water and land mesh. Council members voted unanimously to spend $100,000, paying Monee-based Cardno, Inc. to see how such lands can be developed. Public Works Director Wayne Aldrich told Council members finding other communities which have such a unique situation with land and water would give Normal an opportunity for Normal to learn.

He answered a question put to him by Council Member Kathleen Lorenz by saying residents with these unique properties – part land and part water – as the water being part of their backyards. But he added, neighbors do complain about erosion.

Board Appointments And A Reappointment Approved: Council members approved two appointments to two separate commissions and a reappointment to another. As a result of their unanimous vote, Todd E. Bugg has been appointed to the Town’s Historic Preservation Commission. Bugg is filling the vacancy left as a result of the resignation of Kristen Allen. Bugg will be on the Commission to serve out the remainder of Allen’s term which expires on March 31. He graduated from University of Illinois and Illinois College of Law and has practiced law for 27 years. He is a partner in the firm of Dunn Law Firm, LLP.

As a result of another unanimous Council vote, Julie Hile has been appointed to the Board of Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System. Hile is filling a vacancy left by the resignation of Jennifer McDade, and her term will run July 1 through June 30, 2021. She is a senior performance consultant with the Hile Group.

Council members unanimously approved reappointing Ben Harmon to the Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation Board for a term which will expire on June 30, 2021.

Former City Manager Peterson Receives Honor: Normal ’s previous City Manager, Mark Peterson, received an award from his peers in that profession on June 14 in Collinsville . Peterson was presented with the Robert B. Morris Lifetime Achievement Award at a meeting of members of Illinois City/County Manager’s Association.

Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included:

• Approval of the minutes of the regular Council meeting of June 4, 2018.

• Approval of Town of Normal expenditures for payment as of June 13, 2018.

• A resolution conditionally reapproving a final plat for the first addition to the MP-One subdivision.

• A resolution awarding the bid for concrete to the low bidder, Bloomington-based Stark Excavating, Inc. at a price per cubic yard of $103 for High Early Mix and $89 for S. I. Mix.

• A resolution authorizing a contract with Hoerr Construction, Inc. for the 2018 sanitary and storm sewer cleaning and televising contract in the amount of $341,690.

• A resolution waiving the formal bidding process and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Lake Mary, Fla.-based Superion, LLC for the purchase of TRAKiT software and related professional services.

• An ordinance amending the Town Liquor Code concerning video gaming for pari-mutuel premises and concerning secondary premises licenses for limited hour licenses.

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